Disposal unit



Dec. 15, 1959 E. E. WIECZOREK 2,917,246

I DISPOSAL UNIT Filed April 16, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 42 27 2? 66- I 72I j I l /f II a ' vI I I M I I um I III I I I I I I j I II I I I I IFIGJ ' INVENTOR. EUGENE E.WIECZOREK ATTORNEYS United States PatentDISPOSAL UNIT Eugene E. Wieczorek, Racine, Wis., assiguor to In-Sink-Erator Manufacturing Company, Racine, Wis., a corporation of WisconsinApplication April 16, 1958, Serial No. 728,850

4 Claims. (Cl. 241-325) This invention relates to a new and improvedwaste disposal unit and more particularly to a combination stopper andcontrol device for a waste disposal unit.

In any waste disposal unit, including units intended for both domesticand commercial use, it is desirable to afford a simple and convenientmeans for switching the unit off and on. Usually this means comprises anexternal electrical switch for the motor of the disposal device, sincethe unit is customarily mounted beneath a sink and is enclosed by acabinet which makes access to the unit itself relatively inconvenient.For example, control switches are frequently mounted on a wall closelyadjacent the sink in which the disposal unit is mounted or on the frontof the sink cabinet.

A separate electrical switch of this kind, although not difiicult inoperation, does require that the user of the unit remember to turn theswitch on and does constitute a separate operation in addition to thedepositing of garbage or other waste material in the unit. In order toeliminate this additional operation and for the added convenience of theuser, various devices have been proposed for automatically energizingorde-energizing the motor of the unit in accordance with the position ofthe stopper for mama. In general, however, control devices of this kindhave been relatively expensive and have therefore received only limitedcommercial acceptance. Furthermore, many such devices have presentedsubstantial problems and disadvantages with respect to maintenance andunreliability of operation.

A primary object of the invention therefore, is to provide anew andimproved control device for a waste disposal unit which operatesautomatically as an incident to the positioning of the stopper in thewaste disposal unit.

A further object of the invention is a new and improved stopper-operatedcontrol device for a waste disposal unit which permits the use of astopper of substantially unitary construction yet which afiords maximumvariability of control merely by rotation of the stopper.

A more specific object of the invention is a new and improved controldevice for a waste .disposal unit which is actuated by means ofrelatively simple cam followers or lugs afiixed to a stopper which maybe extremely simple and inexpensive in construction.

The invention is directed to a waste disposal unit of the kind includinga comminuting chamber, a throat for admitting waste into the comminutingchamber, a rotor disposed within the chamber, and an electrical motorconnected to the rotor. A combination stopper and control deviceconstructed in accordance with the invention comprises a sealing lipwhich is disposed within the throat of the disposal unit, and a cammember which is mounted within the throat and which is preferablyaxially displaced with respect to the sealing lip. The device furtherincludes a stopper having a sealing surface for engaging theaforementioned sealing lip to close the same and thus prevent drainageof liquid from the sink in which the disposal unit is mounted. At leastone, and preferably a ice plurality of cam followers, are mounted on thestopper in position to engage the cam member. The cam followers and thecam member are effective to move the stopper axially of the disposalunit throat between a sealing position and an open position uponrotation of the stopper. In addition, the device includes switchingmeans electrically connected to the motor for closing an electricalcircuit to the motor in response to movement of the stopper between itssealing and open positions. Preferably, this switching means comprisesan actuator which extends into the path of movement of some portion ofthe stopper such as one of the cam followers.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following description and claims and are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show a preferredembodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof and whatis now considered to be the best mode for applying those principles.Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalentprinciples may be used and structural changes may be made as desired bythose skilled in the art without departing from the present invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a partly sectional elevation view of a waste disposal unitincluding a combination stopper and control device constructed inacordance with one embodiment of the invention, the lower or motorportion of the disposal unit having been omitted from the drawing;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the disposal unit taken ap proximatelyalong the line 22 in Figure 1, and shows the bottom portion of thestopper and a portion of the control device;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the throat and stopper portions of the disposalunit;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken approximately along the line %4 in Fig.1 with the stopper removed from the disposal unit to show the camelements in the throat portion thereof;

Fig. 5v is a schematic, developmental diagram of the cam surfaces withinthe throat portion of the disposal uni n Fig. 6 isa detail sectionalview taken approximately as indicated by line 66 in Fig. 2.

Fig 1 illustrates a waste disposal unit 10 which includes a combinationstopper and control device constructed in accordance with one embodimentof the invention, the details of the control and stopper apparatusbeing. illustrated in Figs. 2 through 6. The waste dis,- posal unit 10includes a sink sleeve 11 which is mounted within the usual drainopening in a sink 12. The mounting of the disposal unit within the sinkopening is not critical with respect to the present invention;accordingly, the structural details of the mounting arrangement havebeen omitted from the drawings.

The waste disposal unit 10 further includes a housing 13, usually acasting, of conventional form having an upper portion 14 which isaflixed to and forms a continuation of the sleeve 11. The portion 14 maybe formed integrally with the remainder of the housing 13 or mayconstitute a separate substantially ring-shaped member mounted on thehousing. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings, thehousing portion 14 comprises an injection molded nylon ring. The housingportion 14 and the sleeve 11 are sometimes referred to hereinafter asthe throat of the disposal unit. The housing 13 may be provided with awater inlet opening 15 in accordance with conventional practice andencloses a comminuting chamber 16. In the lower portion of thecomminuting chamber 16'there is mounted a comrninuting ring or stator 17which encompasses a rotor or corn-' minuting member 18. The rotor 18 issuitably mounted upon the shaft 19 of an electrical motor, the motorbeing generally indicated by reference numeral 21 in Figure 1. The lowerportion of the comminuting chamber 16 communicates with a dischargeopening 22.

The waste disposal unit 10, as thus far described, is

. substantially conventional in construction and in general operates ina conventional manner. Garbage and other waste material may be depositedin the comminuting chamber 16 through the sleeve 11. Once-the materialis deposited within the chamber 16, water is preferably discharged intothe chamber and the motor 21 is energized to rotate the comminutingmember 18 within the chamber 16. The rotor 18 and the comminuting ring17 cooperate to grind the waste material, which is subsequently flushedout and discharged through the opening 22. The flow of water into theunit may be admitted through the throat 11, 14, or through the separateinlet opening 15, depending upon the manner in which the disposal unitis installed in the sink 12.

The present invention is concerned with the combination stopper andcontrol device 24 located at the base of the throat 11, 14 of thedisposal unit. The device 24 comprises a stopper 25, the construction ofwhich is best illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

The stopper 25 includes an upper or cap portion 26 to which a bottomportion 27 is rigidly afiixed. Each of the two sections 26 and 27 of thestopper may be conveniently and inexpensively formed from sheet metal asby a drawing operation. The upper and lower portions 26 and 27 of thestopper are provided with flange portions 28 and 29 respectively, theflange 28 on the cap portion 26 may be formed into a handle 31 to afforda convenient means for grasping the stopper 25 to manipulate the stopperas described more fully hereinafter. Preferably, a relatively smallreinforcing plate 30 is mounted in the top portion of the handle 31, andthe sheet metal of the cap portion 26 is formed around the reinforcingplate to aiford the finger grip portions 31A and 318. The reinforcingplate 30 is highly advantageous in affording a uniform configuration andappearance in the stopper handle; it is extremely difficult to hold thisportion of the stopper to close tolerances unless the reinforcing plate30 is incorporated therein. Moreover, in many instances it may bedesirable to incorporate a relatively thin gasket or a layer of masticor other sealing material between the two halves 26 and 27 of thestopper 25, to prevent water flowing into the stopper, particularly whenthe stopper is subjected to substantial pressure.

The medial part of the lower stopper portion 27 is provided with aflange 32 which affords a seat for a sealing ring 33. Preferably thesealing ring 33 is formed from Neoprene synthetic rubber or from someother suitable resilient material substantially resistant to water andother fluids which might be encountered in normal use of the wastedisposal unit. The ring 33 extends radially outwardly from the stopperto a limited extent. When the stopper 25 is in sealing position in thesleeve 11, as illustrated in Figure l, the sealing ring 33 rests upon asealing lip 34 which extends completely around the internal surface ofthe sleeve 11. Thus, when the stopper 25 is in the position shown inFigure 1, it effectively closes off the sleeve 11, and prevents thedrainage of water or other liquid from the sink 12.

The stopper 25 further includes a cam plate 35 which is riveted, staked,or otherwise suitably atfixed to the base portion 27 of the stopper. Thecam plate 35 is provided with three cam follower lugs 36, 37 and 38 (seeFigs. 2 and 3), which project radially outwardly from the stopper towardthe inner surface of the throat portion 14 of the housing 13. Althoughthe three cam follower lugs 3638 are approximately equally angularlyspaced with respect to each other, they are preferably somewhatdifierent in configuration. Furthermore, it should be understood thatthe number of the cam follower lugs is not critical with respect to thepresent invention and that four or more lugs may be utilized as desired.Indeed, even one or two lugs may suflice, although at least three arepreferred to afford an effective and uniform cam and support action uponrotation of the stopper as described in detail hereinafter.

The cam follower lug 36 is a simple planar radially projecting lug. Thecam follower 37 is generally similar in configuration to the lug 36 butis provided with a downwardly projecting ear 39. The lug 38, on theother hand, is provided with a curved cam surface 41 which is notconcentric with respect to the axis of the stopper 25. The lug 38 isalso provided with an upwardly projecting ear 42 as best indicated inFigure 1.

The combination stopper and control device 24 also includes a compositecam member which cooperates with the cam followers 36, 37 and 38, andwhich is best illustrated in Figures 2, 4, 5 and 6. In the illustratedembodiment the cam member comprises the throat portion 14 of thedisposal unit housing, and includes three separate cam elements whichengage the cam followers on the stopper. The cam followers 36-38 and thecam projection portions of the throat or cam member 14 are effective tomove the stopper 25 axially of the throat upon rotation of the stopperin either a clockwise or a counter clockwise direction, as explainedmore fully hereinafter.

As best indicated in Figures 4 and 5, a first cam element 43 extendsalong a minor arc of the interior of the disposal unit throat; the camelement 43 aflords a pair of converging upwardly directed cam surfaces44 and 45, which are bridged by a substantially horizontal surface 46.The surface 46 is not continuous but is provided with a relatively smallgap 47. A stop member or lug 48 projects inwardly of the throat section14 of the disposal unit housing immediately above the horizontal surface46 of the cam element 43. Preferably, the stop member 48, like the camelement 43, is formed as an integral part of the disposal unit throatportion 14.

A second cam element 49 extends along a different arcuate portion of theinterior of the disposal unit throat. Like the cam element 43, the camelement 49 afiords a pair of upwardly directed converging cam surfaces51 and 52 which are elfectively bridged by a substantially horizontalsurface 53. As clearly indicated in Figures 2 and 4, the cam surface 51is preferably made somewhat wider than the cam surface 52 in order toassure positive engagement with the cam follower 38, since a portion ofthe cam follower 38 does not extend radially outwardly of the cam plate35 to the same extent as the other cam followers 36 and 37.

A third cam element 54 is disposed between the cam elements 43 and 49.Like the other cam elements, the cam element 54 includes a pair ofupwardly directed converging cam surfaces 55 and 56 which areinterconnected by a substantially horizontal cam surface 57 having a gap60. A stop member 58 substantially similar to the aforementioned stopmember 48, may be disposed immediately above the horizontal surface 57of the cam element 54. An additional stop element 59 is preferablylocated immediately above the horizontal surface 53 of the cam element49.

The control device 24 further includes electrical switching meanscomprising a switch 61, which is mounted within a separate compartment62, externally of the comminuting chamber 16 of the disposal unit. Theswitch 61 is of conventional construction and is supported upon abracket 63 afiixed to the housing of the disposal unit. The contacts 64and 65 of the switch are electrically connected by suitable conductorsto the disposal unit motor 21, and are mechanically connected to acontrol arm 66. The arm 66 in turn is engaged by an actuator membercomprising a plunger 67 which extends through an aperture 68 in thethroat portion 14 of the disposal unit housing.

The switch actuator 67 is shown in its normal or unactuated position inFigure 1, and is normally biased toward this position by a compressionspring 69, which is disposed in encompassing relation to the actuator.One end of the spring 69 engages the bracket 63; the other end of thespring engages a washer 71 mounted in fixed position upon the actuator.A sleeve 72 is disposed within the housing aperture 68 in encompassingrelation to the actuator member 67. A sealing ring 73 is preferablymounted on the actuator member in sealing engagement with that memberand with the sleeve 72, to prevent any drainage of water or other fluidfrom the disposal unit into the compartment 62 housing the switchOperation of the combined stopper and control device 24, is extremelysimple and uniform yet affords a substantial degree of flexibility withrespect to switching of the waste disposal unit motor 21. Insofar asclosing of the throat 11 of the disposal unit is concerned, it'is onlynecessary to place the stopper 25 in the throat in a posi-v tion inwhich the cam follower lugs 36, 37 and 38 are aligned with the gaps 76,77 and 78, between the cam elements 43, 49 and 54 (see Figures 2 and 4).With the stopper aligned in this angular position with respect to thethroat 11, the cam follower lugs find no support within the throat, withthe result that the stopper drops into the throat until the gasket orsealing ring 33 engages the sealing lip 34 as indicated in Figure 1.Preferably, this home location is identified for the housewife or otheruser of the disposal unit by suitable markings on the stopper 25 and onthe rim 74 of the disposal unit throat as indicated by the indicia 75 inFigure 3.

When it is desired to drain water or other liquid from the sink 12without removing the stopper 25 from the disposal unit throat, it isonly necessary to turn the stop I per in a counter clockwise directionas indicated by the legend 79 in Figure 3. When this is done, the camfollowers 36, 37 and 38 ride upwardly upon the inclined surfaces 52, 45and 56 respectively, and thus move the stopper 25 axially of the throat11 to a non-sealingor open position in which the stopper is elevatedabove the sealing lip 34. The upward movement of the stopper permitswater and other liquid material to flow around the stopper and into thecomminuting chamber 16, the liquid being discharged from the disposalunit through the outlet opening 22. Movement of the stopper 25 in acounter clockwise direction is limited by the ear 39 on the cam follower37 dropping into the slot 47 in the cam element 43. The slot 47 islocated in a position such that counter clockwise movement of thestopper is arrested before the cam follower 36 engages the switchactuator 67; thus, the stopper is not effective to actuate the switch 61when moved in a counter clockwise direction. The stop members 48, 58 and59, engage the upper surfaces of the cam followers to hold the stopperin its open position.

Actuation of the switch 61 is effectively achieved by rotation of thestopper 25 in a clockwise direction as indicated by the legend 81 inFigure 3. When the stopper is rotated in this direction from its homelocation to the position shown in Fig. 2, the cam follower lugs 36, 37and 38 ride upwardly on the cam surfaces 44-, 55 and 51 respectively.Consequently, the peripheral cam surface 41 of the lug 38 is broughtinto engagement with the end of the switch actuator 67, and drives theswitch actuator outwardly through the aperture 68 as seen in Figure 1.The outward movement of the switch actuator effectively changes theoperating condition of the switch contacts 64 and 65 and, in theillustrated embodiment, closes the electrical operating circuit of themotor 21. By thus energizing the motor 21, the waste disposal unit isactivated to grind and dispose of whatever Waste material has beendeposited in the comminuting chamber 16.

Excessive movement in the clockwise direction is prevented by engagementof the ear 42 on the cam follower lug 38 with the stop member 59 asindicated in Figure 6.. Return movement of the stopper to the homeposition shown in Fig. 3 and indicated in phantom outline in Fig. 2releases the lug 38 from engagement with the actuator 67, permitting theactuator to return to its normal position (Fig. 1) under the biasingeffect of the spring 69 and thus opening the switch 61.

The embodiment of the invention described hereinabove is specificallyadapted to a waste disposal unit in which a grinding operation iseffected only when the stopper 25 is in place. Thus, the switch 61 isactuated only when the stopper is turned to the grind position asillustrated in Fig. 2. In this position the stopper is open and permitsthe flow of water into the waste disposal unit to assist in the grindingoperation and to flush the ground waste material from the comminutingchamber 16 of the unit. It is not possible, however, to introduceadditional waste material into the comminuting chamber during the courseof the grinding operation, since the stopper 25 still prevents theadmission of solid materials into the disposal unit. An arrangement ofthis kind is desirable in many domestic installations since itpositively prevents any injury to the user from chips or other smallparticles which might otherwise be impelled outwardly of the wastedisposal unit during the grinding operation.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the combinationstopper and control device of the invention is relatively simple andinexpensive in construction, and therefore highly advantageous in aneconomic sense, as compared with previously known devices which affordsimilar control functions. By the same token, the simplicity ofconstruction of the device substantially minimizes maintenance andoperational difficulties. The cam plate 35 is easily and economicallyformed from sheet metal by a simple punching operation. The switch andswitch actuator are correspondingly simple and economical inconstruction and do not require any complex rotating parts or othermembers which may give rise to maintenance and other operationaldifliculties. The stopper 25, with its unitary sheet metal construction,is also considerably less expensive to manufacture than other comparabledevices.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described andillustrated, it is to be understood that these are capable of variationand modification.

I claim:

1. In a waste disposal unit of the kind having a comminuting chamber, athroat for admitting waste into said comminuting chamber, a motor, and acomminuting member disposed within said chamber and driven by saidmotor, a combination stopper and control device comprising: a sealinglip projecting inwardly of said throat; a cam member mounted within saidthroat in axially displaced relation to said sealing lip; a stopperhaving a sealing surface for engaging said sealing lip to seal saidthroat; a plurality of cam followers comprising lugs mounted on saidstopper and projecting radially thereof in position to engage said cammember, said cam followers and said cam member being effective to movesaid stopper axially of said throat between a sealing position and twodifferent partially open positions with respect to said sealing lip uponrotation of said stopper through a minor arc; retaining means,comprising at least one member mounted on said cam member, forfrictionally engaging the upper surface of at least one of said lugs tomaintain said stopper in at least one of said open positions and preventdislodgement of said stopper in response to water flowing around saidstopper or vibration of said disposal unit; and switching means,electrically connected to said motor, including an actuator memberextending into the path of movement of one of said cam followers, forclosing an electrical circuit to said motor in response to movement ofsaid stopper to one of said open positions.

2. A waste disposal unit as set forth in claim 1 in which said stoppercomprises a pair of complementary cup-shaped sheet metal shells affixedto each other and a sealing ring mounted upon one of said shells toafiord a sealing surface for engaging said sealing lip to seal saidthroat.

3. In a waste disposal unit of the kind having a comminuting chamber, athroat for admitting waste into said comminuting chamber, a motor, and'a comminuting member disposed within said chamber and driven by saidmotor, a combination stopper and control device comprising: a sealinglip comprising a shoulder formed integrally with and projecting inwardlyof said throat; a cam member comprising aplurality of cam elements and aplurality of retainer elements formed integrally with and projectinginwardly of said throat; a stopper having a sealing surface for engagingsaid sealing lip to seal said throat and having a projection extendingradially therefrom; a plurality of cam followers mounted on said stopperin position to engage said carn elements, said cam followers and saidcam elements being eifective to move said stopper from a sealingposition in contact with said sealing lip to either one of two openpositions axially displaced from said sealing lip upon rotation of saidstopper in opposite directions from a givenangular alignment withrespect to said throat, said retainer elements being positioned tocontact said followers in frictional engagement to releasably hold saidstopper in either of said open positions and prevent movement of saidstopper caused by water flowing around said stopper or by vibration ofsaid disposal unit; and switching means, electrically connected to saidmotor, including an actuator member extending into the path of movementof said stopper projection, for opening or closing an electrical circuitto said motor in-response to movement of said stopper between saidsealing and a selected one of said open positions.

4. In a waste disposal unit of the kind having a comminuting chamber, athroat for admitting waste into said comminuting chamber, a motor, and acomminuting member disposed within said chamber and driven by saidmotor, a combination stopper and control device comprising: a sealinglip projecting inwardly of said throat; a cam member mounted within saidthroat in axially displaced relation to said sealing lip and comprisingthree inwardly-projecting cam surfaces of inverted V-shapedconfiguration; a stopper having a sealing surface for engaging saidsealing lip to seal said throat; three cam followers mounted on saidstopper in position to engage said cam member, said cam followers andsaid cam member being effective to lift said stopper from a sealingposition to a first open position upon rotation of said stopper in aclockwise direction with respect to a given home location and to asecond open position in response to rotation of said stopper in acounter clockwise direction; retaining means, comprising at least onemember mounted on said cam member, for frictionally engaging the uppersurface of at least one of said lugs to maintain said stopper in atleast one of said open positions and prevent dislodgement of saidstopper in response to water flowing around said stopper or vibration ofsaid disposal unit; and switching means, electrically connected to saidmotor, including an actuator member extending through said throat intothe path of movement of a portion of said stopper for opening or closingan electrical circuit to said motor in response to movement of saidstopper to only one of said open positions.

Van Raust Mar. 4, 1952 Drew Nov. 3, 1953

